headerAlabama defensive end Wallace Gilberry posted a career-best game in his senior-year Homecoming performance with a team-high 11 tackles (nine solo), two sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two QB hurries. Asked earlier in the week about Alabama's shortage of sacks, Gilberry commented that sacks "come in bunches", which proved to be prophetic as Alabama tallied a season-best five of them. Was it the best performance by an Alabama defender in any game this season? You be the judge: Below is a look at the stat lines for Alabama's leading tackler in each game this season.

UA tackle leader

Opponent

Solo

Assists

Total

Other

Wallace Gilberry

Houston

9

2

11

2 sacks, 4.5 TFL, 2 hurries

Ezekial Knight

FSU

x

x

xx

xxx

xxx

Georgia

x

x

x

xxx

xxx

Arkansas

x

x

x

xxx

xxx

Vanderbilt

x

x

xx

xxx

xxx

WCU

x

x

xx

xxx

By the numbersA look at a few numbers from Alabama's 30-24 win over Houston.

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Shutterbug

Quote of the day

"This is one of the best defensive football teams I've seen in college football for awhile." - Nick Saban on FSU's defense

More turnovers neededAlabama's Simeon Castille, despite the struggles of the UA offense, pointed the thumb instead of the finger after the game. The defense forced one turnover, a second-half interception by linebacker Prince Hall, but Castille said that isn't enough.

"You've got to create more turnovers on defense," said Castille. "If you're out there more, that just means more opportunities to get turnovers and we weren't able to do that. We got one and our goal is three. If we had caused more TO and helped our offense more we would have been in good shape."

Motley returns<Brian Motley's quicker-than-expected return to the lineup Saturday, coming off an ankle fracture, yielded two tackles, including one for loss by the red shirt freshman.

"We tried to spot play him," said coach Nick Saban. "We tried to play him about three plays out of 15. I know we got some guys nicked up front so I don't know if we were able to stay with that or not."

Motley, a nose guard, made one solo and one assisted stop while spelling Lorenzo Washington.

Quick hitsAlabama defensive end Bobby Greenwood left the game with an ankle injury in the first half and did not return. Saban said Greenwood would likely undergo tests or an MRI on Sunday. Several Alabama players were shaken up but returned, including Terry Grant and Wallace Gilberry. The Crimson Tide punted on its first 10 possessions.